Pipe-wrench.



No. 048,700. Patented may l, |000.

ll llllllmll lit-mmm 0 Immun "500| umu citizen of the United States,residing atv Chi'- the following is a specification.'

crum-piece-thatjs, to prevent the disengagefscription hereinafter given.

-ing-bolt; Fig. 4, an enlarged elevation of one UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

l HOMER IARMELEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO.JU,STIN

PARMELEE, OF SAME PLACE.

H-PIPE-wRENcl-l.

srncmcsrion formingpat of Letters Patent No. 648,706, dated may 1, 1900.Application tiled Deobmber 26.1896. Serial No. 741,5'7`9. `(Na'xnoliel.)

To dll whom' it m'ayc'oncern: l Be it known that I, HOMER PARMELEE', a

cago, in the county of Cook 'and' State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Pipe-Wrenches, of which Myinvention relates to pipe-wrenches gem erally, but more particularly tothat class in which the girth is made in sections, the ends of whichengage the fulcrum-piece; audits object isvto provide simple, eicient,and reliable means for locking the girth tosuch fulment of the partsduring the manipulation of theA wrench. AAs shown, these means `arecontrolled by the turning of the wrench-handle, whereby-the operator isenabled to actuate the lock with facility in the work of operating thewrench. I also provide a novelremovable pin for holding and pivoting thegirth to thev fulcrum-piece, sothat different sizes of girth may bereadily substituted and used with the same fulcrum-piece..

My invention embodies other novel and advantageous features ofconstruction and operation, which will be apparent from the de In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional plan of my wrench, takenon line 1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, an elevation of my wrench, but with thefulcrum-piece and handle in section, such section being on the line 2 ofFig. 1 g Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective of the lockend of thepivoting-pin; Fig. 5, a section showing a modified form of constructionof the locking means proper, and Fig. 6 a sectional view showing amodified form of the handle for operating the locking-bolt.

The fu'lcrum-piece 1 is preferably provided .with a series ofbearing-lugs 2, on which is to be pivoted or hinged the girth, formed,as shown, of the base-section 3, middle section 4, and lip-section 5,all the sections being suitably hinged together. The last or lip sectionhas a lip 6 on its outer face adapted to engage a shoulder 7 on thelfulcrum-piece, so that the pressure from the handle and through the fulcrum-piece will be exerted on the girth,

so as to tightly clamp a pipe, such as the pipe 8 illustrated in thedrawings. The base-section is pivoted or hinged to the fulcrum-pieee bymeans of a lpin 9 of the peculiar construction hereinafter referred to.

As illustrated in Figs.' 1 and-2, the fulcrumpiece, which is hollow, isprovided for a suit- 'able distance with right-hand internalscrewthreads 10 to receive corresponding screwthreads on a handle 11,referably in the form of a pipe, as shown. he handle is therebypermitted to move inward and outward with respect to the fulcrum-pieceor head, which is preferably extended, as shown in thedrawings,suiciently beyond the screw-threads of the handle and along itssmooth surface to form a suitable bearing therefor. The inner end of thehandle has a ,Lug 12, provided with j a central screw-threa ed bore 13,which receives the left-hand screw-threaded shank 14 of the bolt, whichforms the means for locking the girth and which is actuated by therotation of the handle, This bolt has a preferably flat-sided head 15,whose end or top may' be hollowed out, as at 16, or made substantially Uor V shaped. This bolt or abutment is adapted to work or reciprocatethrough a corresponding opening 17 in the outer end of the fulcrum-pieceand to .abut or contact the middle bearing lug or extension 18 on theinner end of the base-section 3 of the girth.

It is obvious that in a wrench unprovided with the lock after the pipeis clamped and the lip has engaged there is a possibility ofdisengagement of the lip when the operator is'securing a fresh hold orgrip on the pipe; but when such lock is used it will b e readilyperceived that all danger of disengagement is removed and a positiveengagement afforded, which is entirely under the control of the operatorthrough his handle, so that in swinging his handle to turn the pipe hecan simultaneously partially rotate the handle to make the locksufficiently tight, and also he can, if desired, unlock the girth byrotating the handle in the opposite direction. The result of rotatingthe handle slightly' is to cause the head 15, which is of course heldfrom rotation, to move against the girth-section 3, which is therebyheld in xedrelation tothe fulcrum. So long as this fixed relation ismaintained the other girth-sections cannot IOO move to allowdisengagement of the lip G and shoulder 7, whereby the girth becomessecurely locked around the pipe. By reason of the construction shown theoperatorcan swing his handle for fresh holds on the pipe withoutliability of freeing the girth from the pipe, as

might otherwise happen, and he is also en-v abled to simultaneouslyloclc or unlock the girth.

The pintle or pivoting-pin 9 passes through registering holes in thefulcrnm-piece and also in the series of lugs on the girth-section 3,and, as shown more clearly in lFig. 4, one end or the head of the pin isbeveled, being preferably so, and the hole in the fulcrumpiece iscorrespondingly countersunk toreceive the head of the pin, so that itwill be flush or substantially so with the top face of thefulcrum-piecc. The pin is provided near its beveled end with acircumferential groove 19 to receive a spring-ring 20, normally pre--jeeting slightly beyond the cylindrical surface of the pin and adaptedto be sprung into and be engaged Vby a circular preferably substantiallyV-shaped groove 2l in the wall of the hole in the fulcrum-piece neareither or both ends. For its purposes asa pivotal pin it is practicallyirremovable and can only be removed by striking or forcing the lower endof the pin inward, whereupon the ring will be pressed within its grooveto permit the unlocking and removal of the pin.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of construction of the locking meansproper, which is similar to the bolt shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in so faras its extreme outer end 22 is concerned; but it is unprovided with ashank, having in place thereof a flat enlarged end of head 23, againstwhich bears the edges 24 of the inner end of a preferably open pipe 25,forming the operating-handle. In this form the lock is separate andloose both from the fulcrum piece and the operatinghandle, whereas inthe form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the lock was engaged by theoperating-handle. In this modified form shown in'Fig. 5 the lock isdropped inl place within the fulcrum-pieee 1, when the handle isunserewed and detached and its outer end 22 passes through the opening17, adjacent to the girthsection 3, near its pivotal point. When thehandle is screwed inward suiieiently, its end will bear directly againstthe lock and force it against the part 1S of the girth-section 3,effecting the same result as in the ease of the form already described.

Fig. 6 represents a-modiiied form of con'- struction of the fulcrum-piece and handle, in which the handle is suitably held withinlthe f ulcrum-piece and against longitudinal movement, but not againstrotary movement. In the forms already described the handle whichcontrolled the lock had both a rotary and 1ongitudinal movementwithrespect to the fulcrum-piece; but in the form now referred'to the handlehas only the rotary movement. This modified form of wrench is otherwiselip and shoulder, so that intaking fresh holds of the pipe there is nedangerof inadvertently freeing the wrench from the pipe.

Although I have described more or less precise forms-and details ofconstruction, I do not intend to be understood as limiting myselfthereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts, andthesubstitut-ion ofequivalents, as circumstances may suggest or renderexpedient and without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim- 1. A pipewreneh comprising a clamping member to grip the pipe,a handle connected to such member, and means for locking said memberaroundv the pipe with varying `def grecs of tightness and controlled bythe 11andle, to prevent the disengagement of such member from the pi pebut not affecting the grip on the pipe.

2. In a' pipe-Wrench having a girth and a fulcrum-piece on which thegirth is hinged, a locking member operating within such fulcrum-pieceand adapted to lock the girth around a pipe, and an operating-handlefor.

actuating such member.

3. In a pipe-wrench having a girth and a fulcrum-piece on which thegirth is hinged, a locking member operating within such fulcrum pieceand adapted to lock the girth around a pipe and an operating-handleconnected to the fulcrum-pieee and adapted to be swung to operate thewrench and to be rotated to operate such locking member.

4. A pipe-wrench comprising a clamping member to grip the pipe, a handleoperatively connected to such member and means for locking the memberaround the pipe to prevent its disengagement therefrom but not affectingthe grip on the pipe, such means being controlled by said handle.

5. In a pipe-wrench having a rotatable operating-handle, means forlocking the wrench imposition around the pipe and preventing the freeingthereof from the pipe duringthe manipulation of thewrench but exertingno infiuence on the grip'on the pipe,whieh means are controlled by therotation of the operating-handle.

G. In a pipe-wrench having a girth in sections and a hollowfulcrum-piece on which the girth is hinged, an operating-handlerotatable within said piece, a locking-bolt within the fulcrum-piece andadapted to be projected therethrough and against one of thegirth-sections hinged to such piece and an operating-handle rotatableWithin the fulcrumpiece and adapted to cause the bolt to press againstsuch girth-sections.

7. In a pipe-wrench having a girth comprising a base-section, middlesection and lipsection, hinged together and encompassing IOO IIO

the pipe, a fu'lcrum-piece on which the basesection is hinged and havinga shoulder engaged by such lip-sectioman operating-handle, and meanscontrolled by such handle for preventing disengagement of thelip-section and shoulder. Y

8 Ina pipe-wrench having a girth in sections and a hollow fulcrum-pieceon which the girth is pivoted or hinged, a locking-bolt within suchfulerum-piece and having a screwthreaded shank and a head projectingthrough an opening of the fulerum-piece adjacent to the pivotalpoint of the girth, and an operating-handle rotatable in suchfulcrum-pieee and having in one end a screw-threaded bore receiving suchshank.

9. A pipe-wrench comprising agirth in seetions, a hollow fulerum-pieceon which the girth is hinged and on which the free end of the girthengages, and means for preserving such engagement consisting of a bolthaving a shank 14 and a head 15 projecting from within thefulcrum-piece, an operating-handle rotatable in such fulcrum-pieee andhaving a screw-threaded bore receiving said shank whereby the rotationof the handle will force the bolt outward against the girth and preventdisengaging movement of the parts.

10. A pipe-wrench comprising a girth in seetions, a hollow fulerum-pieoeon which the girth is hinged and on which the free end of the girthengages, such fulcrum-piece having right-hand internal screw-threads,and means for preserving such engagement consisting of a bolthavingashank 14 with left-hand screwthreads and a head 15 hollowed outat 16, and an 'operating-handle having external screwthreads engagingsaid internal'threads and having a central screw-threaded bore receivingsaid shank, whereby as the handle is inwardly screwed the bolt will beprojected ontwardly against the girth and prevent disengagement. v

11. Ina pipe-wrench having a girth and a fnleruin-pieee, a pivot-pin orpintle on which the girth is hinged or pvoted and passing through thegirth and fulcrum -pieee, and spring-catch means on the pin for normallylocking the pin in position.

12. In a pipe-wrench having agirth and a fulcrum-pieee, a pivot-pin orpintle on which the girth is hinged or pivoted and passing through aholein the girth and f ulcrum-pieee, such pin havinga circumferentialgroove, and a spring-ring in such groove, said hole also having agroove, in which such ring engages to hold the pin against displacementin ordinary use.

13. In a pipe-wrench having a girth and a fulcrum-piece, a pivot-pin orpintle passing through a hole in the girth and fulerum-piece, such pinhaving a circumferential groove near one end,and a spring-ring in suchgroove, said hole having an angular groove 2l in which the ring engages.

14. A pipe-wrench comprising a hollow fulcrum-piece 1, havingbearing-lugs 2, a girth consisting of a base-section 3 hinged to thelugs, a middle section, and an end section having a lip 6, a shoulder 7on the fulerum-piece engaged by the lip, such fulcrum-piece havinginternal screw-threads 10 and an opening 17, a hollow handle 11 havingright-hand threads engaging threads 10, a plug 12 in the end of thehandle and having a screw-threaded bore 13, and a bolt consisting of ashank having a left-hand thread, and of a head 15 adapted to be forcedthrough the opening 17 against the girth-section 3, such shank being'received by said bore.

15. In a pipe-wrench, a handle for such wreneh,whieh handle is rotatablewith respect to the wrench, in combination with moans controlled by therotation of the handle to lock the wrench around the pipe but exertingno influence on the grip on the pipe.

16. A pipe-wrench comprising a clamping member eneom passing andgripping the pipe and locking itself thereto in a forward movement, ahandle to which such member is operativel y connected, and meanscontrolled by the handle for preventing disengagement of the clampingmember from its encompassing position on the backward movement of thehandle.

IIOMER PARMELEE.

Witnesses:

S. S. BAKER, GEO. ll. DUNKLF..

